Thirty Years Young

It all started back in 1958 when 14 year old Dave ‘Batman’ Goddard started to play bass guitar with a couple of school friends, one being Robert Llewellyn on drums, later to become Rockin’ Louie, in a band called ‘The Backbeats’.They played local youth clubs and in 1959 it was suggested by Rockin’ Louie to get a manager. Paul Barrett lived a few streets away from Louie and was interested in setting up record hops, film shows and bands to promote Rock’n’Roll. Under Paul Barretts’ guidance The Backbeats played local gigs alongside Dave Edmunds and The Raiders and Tommy Scott and The Senators (later to become Tom Jones).

On these local gigs, a young fan called Michael Barratt would be in the front row watching every move the band made. He would sometimes be invited on stage to sing ‘Mean Woman Blues’, ‘What’d I say’, ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’. This inspired him to sing with a band called The Denims, but in 1968 Michael Barratt was to beome Shakin Stevens and The Sunsets were formed from the nucleus of The Backbeats. Over the years the gigs ranged from down market pubs through to universties, dance halls, stage shows and tours of the Netherlands, Germany, France and Scandinavia, which included TV and radio appearances.

Over the years there were many changes in The Sunsets line up. The group saw some twenty three musicians come and go, but through it all were three stalwarts, Rockin’ Louie, Ace Skudder, Dave ‘Batman’ Goddard and of course Shakey. After a decade on the road together, it was with sadness that the group watched Shakey leave to appear as Elvis in Jack Goods West End production.

Rockin’ Louie became front man and amongst other hits recorded the ‘It Will Stand’ album, now a top selling CD in the Carolinas USA

Dave ‘Batman’ Goddard worked on and off with various line-ups of The Sunsets as bass player, road manager and sound man.

Dave took off to the USA and on his return found the group was on the brink of disbanding. He managed to talk to various ex-members, such as Willie Blackmore who had played on the ‘Rockin’ and Shakin’ L.P., to fulfill a series of gigs. Carl Peterson returned for a while as did Duane Dolan and The Sunsets rocked through the 80’s. and early 90’s

The present line-up consists of ‘Mean’ Dave Green Who’s roots are somewhere in classical music with his first instrument being piano accordian. When we talk about musical back ground, this guys whole family are musicians with the exception of none. After gigging around the circuit as a solo act singing and playing keyboard, the big hand of Rock’n’Roll beckoned when The Sunsets heard him and he is now a firmly established rockin’ piano-man. The guitarist, Ray Thompson has been with the band on and off for years. First as drummer back in the eighties when Rockin' Louie was front man after Shaky moved on and apart from piano has played just about every instrument with the band. Here he is again featuring on lead guitar and of coarse vocals Everybody in The Sunsets has to sing - it's a tradition! Ray has fronted his own bands in the more recent past. One of which was named the Big Combo. This guys talent and charisma only serve to add to that of this great '50's rock' n' roll act. This music is the basis of it all, going back to the first generation of youth culture. ROCK' N' ROLL SPANS THE AGES. AND AGE GAPS...

All the old favourites are there including Shakey's 80's hits such as This Old House, Marie Marie, Julie, It's Late, and Green Door etc. along with revamped and fresh material. It's the entire 50's Rock & Roll sound, Black styling, a little Rock-a-billy, Jump Jive, That Hailey dance beat, Chuck Berry motivating and that Jerry Lee piano, big hits and top bops performed only as the Sunsets can. The road goes on forever and the music never ends.

The Sunsets provided the dynamic backing and animated stage show needed to generate popular interest amongst the youth of the 70's in the classic Rock & Roll music of the 50's. This was no mean feat and then manager Paul (Leggs) Barrett recounts that in the early years it was often necessary for the band to mascarade as a country band to secure a gig only introducing the audience to their hard hitting Rock & Roll once they had been warmed up. This didn't last long and the band were soon in demand by a public eager to experience the excitement of their show. The band have continued from strength to strength having over the years shared stages with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Abba, Jerry Lee, Billy Lee, Carl Perkins and in fact more Brittish and American Rock & Roll icons than they care to remember. 14 albums numerous singles 2 gold discs and thirty years of regular appearances on the stages, radio stations and TV shows of Europe including a 45 minute special about the band on Dutch national TV, speak for them selves. Shakey is long gone on the road of his solo career but the Sunsets remain a force in their own right. The line up has changed over the years as with so many of the bands we have enjoyed over the year, but the magic still remains.

Now under the leadership of ex Backbeat Dave 'Batman' Goddard, with Rockin Louis, Mean Dave Green, and Ray Thompson, the band once described as "the best Brittish second generation 50's Rock & Roll band" continues. Judge for yourself by catching one of their many live performances either in a stadium or in one of the small clubs they still love to perform in or buy their new CD The Sunsets Ride Again available towards the summer of 1999.

Email: The Sunsets - Webmaster

©1999 The Sunsets